Lagos orders probe as Nigerians tackle hospitals over businesswoman, call agent’s deaths (Punch)
Nigerians are demanding justice for a businesswoman, Peju Ugboma, and a Lagos State Emergency Management Agency call centre agent, Omolara Omoyajowo, who both died due to alleged negligence by doctors and nurses at two different private hospitals in Lagos and Ogun states.
However, the Lagos State Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency said an order had been given for a probe into the circumstances surrounding the death of Peju.
HEFAMAA_LASG tweeted, “The Honorable Commissioner @LSMOH, @ProfAkinAbayomi, had directed @HEFAMMA_LASG; the agency charged with the responsibility of accrediting, monitoring, and inspecting all public and private health facilities in the State, to conduct a proper investigation on the occurrence to establish the facts of the matter and ensure #JusticeForPeju with a view to preventing such unfortunate incidents in the future.” Read more
PDP hails suspension of 3 LG chairmen by Lagos Assembly (Independent)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended Lagos House of Assembly (LAHA) over the suspension of three council chairmen in the state.
The PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Taofik Gani, gave the commendation in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos.
The suspended chairmen are: Ogidan Mukandasi of Lekki LCDA, Suleiman Jelili (Alimosho) and Tajudeen Ajide (Surulere).
He said that the assembly’s resolution to suspend the three council chairmen over alleged mismanagement and under-performance was commendable. Read more
Fire guts Lagos church, Osun market (Punch)
An early morning fire, on Sunday gutted a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in the Alapere area of Lagos State.
The cause of the inferno, which started around 6.30am and destroyed the entire building, was still unknown as of the time of filling this report.
Footage of the incident, which surfaced online, showed the building in flames with several vehicles trapped on the church premises.
The Lagos State Fire Service stated on its Twitter page, “The Redeem(ed) Church Fire at Ogudu GRA, Alapere Lagos Fire occurred at about 06.30am today Sunday and had since been put out by Lagos State Fire & Rescue Service, please.” Read more
COVID-19: Outdoor advertisers got no intervention from government — LASAA (Vanguard)
The Managing Director of the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), Prince Adedamola Adekunjo Docemo, has said that the Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising industry did not get any intervention from government during the advent of COVID-19 pandemic when their clients cut down on budgets and patronage drastically due to the lockdown.
Docemo who made this known in Lagos during a chat with Brand Journalists, stated: “Because people were not moving around, we had a lot of vacant boards but gradually, things are beginning to pick up and normalize again.
“People have resumed their businesses physically and the roads have become busy again which automatically means OOH advertising is getting more patronage than what was obtainable when the economy was newly hit by the pandemic.” Read more
FG to make gas cheaper, move petroleum products by railway (Guardian)
Federal Government is perfecting a plan to extend equalisation scheme to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as part of measures to reduce deforestation, greenhouse pollution and death from the use of solid fuels.
Speaking at an interactive session, yesterday, Executive Secretary of Petroleum Equalisation Fund, Ahmed Bobboi, said the government was also considering lifting petroleum products, especially Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), by railway, given the expansion of the rail network across the country.
Bobboi noted that the country’s growing demand for petrol has pushed the level of equalised petroleum product from 30 per cent to over 100 per cent as the challenge of inadequate infrastructure, which led to the creation of the agency about 45 years ago, persists. Read more
el-Rufai’s Allegation of Persecution Unfounded, Says Jonathan (ThisDay)
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has described the allegation of persecution made against his administration by Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, as a mere figment of his imagination and concocted to attract cheap attention and undeserving popularity.
Jonathan, in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Reno Omokri, said the allegation by el-Rufai that he was to be arrested in furtherance of the second term bid of the former president was untrue.
He said: “Nigerians may recall that Mr. el-Rufai was on a self-imposed exile during the administration of the late great President Umar Musa Yar’Adua.
“Mr. el-Rufai only returned to Nigeria on May 5, 2010, the very same day that President Yar’Adua died. He returned because he believed that under then-President Jonathan the atmosphere was more conducive for him. This is borne out by a Wikileaks’ cable, in which Mr. el-Rufai admitted that former President Jonathan is ‘clean and honest.’ Read more
Bayelsa begins Yenagoa airport’s operations with Ibom’s 50-seater aircraft (Punch)
The Bayelsa State Government will use a 50-seater aircraft belonging to Ibom Air to start commercial flight operations at the Bayelsa International Airport.
This followed the opening of partnership negotiation between Bayelsa and the Akwa State government, owners of Ibom Air.
The partnership was struck on Saturday when a delegation from Bayelsa led by the Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, met in Uyo with their counterparts from Akwa Ibom State.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority had on April 17 granted Bayelsa International Airport the approval to commence commercial flight operations. Read more
2,000 Hectares Ready In 24 States For Social Housing Scheme – Presidency (Leadership)
More than 2, 000 hectares of land with titled documents have been given by 24 states of the federation for the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s Social Housing Programme while 17 states have indicated interest to participate in the solar power programme, both important elements of the ongoing Economic Sustainability Plan.
In a statement issued by presidential spokesman, Laolu Akande, he said agreement had been reached with at least one major cement manufacturer in the country to sell at significantly discounted price of N2,600 per bag for the housing project.
This came after a meeting the vice president held with three major cement manufacturers in the country namely Dangote Cement, Bua Cement and Lafarge Cement manufacturers. Read more
Retired police officer arrested for allegedly beating wife to death (Guardian)
A retired Assistant Superintendent of Police, who is also the head of Sabon Layi Kwara hamlet, Daniel Salka, has been arrested for allegedly beating his wife to death in Bauchi.
Daniel is the head of Sabon Layi hamlet in Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
A statement from the Chairman of the local government, Iliya Habila, said the ex-police officer had been suspended over alleged violence that led to the death of his wife, Hajara Daniel.
The statement was signed by Director of Administration and General Services, Mr. Marcus Nehemaih, on behalf of the LGA chairman. Read more
Fresh from victory, Nicola Sturgeon says she’ll ‘lead Scotland to independence’ (RT)
After winning a pro-independence majority, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says she’ll “lead Scotland to independence,” no matter what London says. That process will be a hard slog, her predecessor Alex Salmond told RT.
“I hope to lead Scotland to independence,” Sturgeon told the BBC’s Andrew Marr on Sunday, adding that it would be “absurd and completely outrageous” for the Conservative government in London to go to court to block an independence referendum – a likely outcome if the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood passes its own legislation to hold an independence vote and Westminster disagrees.
Sturgeon has long banged the drum of independence, and has been rebuffed in recent years by both Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his predecessor, Theresa May. However, Sturgeon was celebrating victory on Sunday. While her Scottish National Party (SNP) fell one seat short (64 out of 129) of winning an overall majority in the country’s parliamentary elections, the pro-independence Scottish Greens picked up eight seats, meaning a majority of MSPs now support a second independence vote. Read more
UN urges Israel to show ‘restraint’ in East Jerusalem (DW)
The UN has urged Israel to exercise “restraint” as tensions rise between Israelis and Palestinians over the contested area of East Jerusalem, with clashes leaving more than 300 people wounded in recent days.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres wants the Israeli government to halt all demolitions and evictions from the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, his spokesman said.
The long-running dispute between settlers and Palestinian families had been set to face a key legal hearing on Monday. Read more
US passes emergency waiver over fuel pipeline cyber-attack (BBC)
The US government issued emergency legislation on Sunday after the largest fuel pipeline in the US was hit by a ransomware cyber-attack.
The Colonial Pipeline carries 2.5 million barrels a day – 45% of the East Coast’s supply of diesel, gasoline and jet fuel.
It was completely knocked offline by a cyber-criminal gang on Friday and is still working to restore service.
The emergency status enables fuel to be transported by road. Read more
1 person dead in shooting at Canada’s Vancouver International Airport, police looking for suspects (RT)
Canadian police are looking for suspect or suspects after one person was shot dead in broad daylight outside the main terminal of the Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia.
“A man was shot and killed this afternoon near the domestic departure terminal [of the Vancouver International Airport]. Media availability later this evening in Richmond,” the Canadian Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) tweeted on Sunday.
The statement followed reports of police and paramedics responding to a shooting incident at the airport. It was soon announced that the situation has been contained. Read more
COVID: Berliners go out as Germany lifts restrictions for vaccinated and recovered (DW)
Germany now exempts people who have received both of their COVID jabs and those who have recovered from the illness from some restrictions. Many Berliners have been enjoying the sun, but few know about the exemptions.
Martina Czwielung and her mother Renata Czwielung, 84, gathered in Berlin’s Mauerpark with friends on Sunday for a picnic to celebrate a particularly sunny Mother’s Day. Martina is quick to explain that their group of four is from two households and isn’t violating COVID restrictions. But she needn’t have worried: Under the new measures put in place across Germany on Sunday, Martina’s mother, the only vaccinated person in the group, is no longer counted in restrictions limiting the size of gatherings.
She had her second COVID shot more than 14 days ago, which means she can go to the hairdresser without having to take a test first. “She hasn’t been to the hairdresser in months. It is difficult for her to sign up for a test appointment online so I hope she will be able to go now,” Martina said. Read more
New York police ID suspect in Times Square shooting, say he meant to shoot his brother (RT)
New York police have identified the suspected gunman in a shooting Saturday at Times Square that injured a 4-year-old girl and two women as Farrakhan Muhammad, saying he was aiming at his brother but hit the bystanders.
The 31-year-old suspect’s identity was first disclosed by several New York media outlets on Sunday. The NYPD then released a wanted poster naming Farrakhan Muhammad. The gunman was seen on surveillance video after Saturday’s shooting, and he was reportedly identified when detectives were investigating a fatal stabbing at a Midtown Manhattan hotel hours later.
The detectives spotted a man hanging around near the hotel who looked almost identical to the alleged Times Square gunman. When they began to question him and noted his resemblance to the shooter, the man said, “I’m his brother.” Read more
Eagles for four-nation tourney in Austria (Nation)
There are strong indications that the Super Eagles would feature in a four-nation tournament in Austria.
This development was made known through a source closed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that the tournament became necessary following the postponement of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Qualifiers by FIFA to September as the Coach Gernot Rohr-tutored side was initially expected to face Lone Star of Liberia and Cape Verde next month for the World Cup qualifiers.
The source revealed that plans are in top gear to have Senegal, Cameroon and yet to be named team to be part of the tournament scheduled to be held in Austria. Read more
Tokyo Olympics: poll shows 60 per cent of Japanese public remains opposed (CBC)
Nearly 60 per cent of people in Japan want the Tokyo Olympics to be cancelled, an opinion poll showed on Monday, less than three months before the Games are due to begin.
Japan has extended a state of emergency in Tokyo until the end of May and is struggling to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases, raising further questions about whether the Games should go on.
Naomi Osaka conflicted over holding the Tokyo Olympics
The 2020 Olympics, which were postponed by a year due to the pandemic, are set to open on July 23.
The survey, conducted from May 7-9 by the Yomiuri Shimbun daily, showed 59 per cent wanted the Games cancelled as opposed to 39 per cent who said they should be held. “Postponement” was not offered as an option. Read more
Federations: Ministry to set up electoral committees (Punch)
Plans have been concluded by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to set up electoral committees for elections into the boards of the recently dissolved sports federations.
The ministry on April 30 dissolved the boards of 30 National Sports Federations, following the expiration of their tenures.
A Director in the ministry, Dr Simeon Ebhojiaye, said, “In order to avoid a vacuum in running the affairs of the federations, the ministry swiftly constituted a three-man caretaker committee for each to hold forth before the elections that will take place in September 2021.
As part of efforts to organise concise and credible elections that will stand the test of time, the ministry has concluded arrangements to set up Electoral Committees which will conduct the federations’ elections in September 2021. Read more
Toronto Raptor Kyle Lowry receives honorary doctorate from Nova Scotia university (CBC)
Toronto Raptor Kyle Lowry received an honorary doctorate from Acadia University in Nova Scotia on Sunday for being a role model, achieving a level of excellence in sports and giving back to the community.
Lowry, a 2016 Olympic gold medallist in U.S. men’s basketball, was one of seven “outstanding individuals” to receive honorary degrees from the university at a convocation held virtually for the Class of 2021 in Wolfville, N.S. He is now a Doctor of Humanities.
In a news release, Acadia University said of Lowry: “He rallied the nation when he led Canada’s only NBA franchise to an historic NBA Championship victory in 2019. Read more
Falcons get 2022 AFCON qualifiers (Nation)
African champion Super Falcons will today get their opponents in next year’s Total Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Morocco 2022 Qualifiers.
The coach Randy Waldrum-tutored who are the defending champion and record nine-time winners , will once again compete for the coveted Women’s AFCON title.
The draw will be conducted today at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt as Morocco 2022 will pit the continent’s finest women’s football teams against each other next year.
In front of the Super Falcons stand South Africa’s Banyana Banyana and Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses: silver and bronze medalists in 2018 in Ghana. Read more
Rory McIlroy returns to winner’s circle with 3rd triumph at Wells Fargo (CBC)
Rory McIlroy found his comfort zone at Quail Hollow and left with a trophy he badly needed.
McIlroy closed with a 3-under 68 and made it tough on himself at the end Sunday, driving into the hazard left of the 18th fairway and needing two putts from 45 feet for a one-shot victory in the Wells Fargo Championship.
THE BUZZERCanadian golfers are having a big (Olympic) year
What mattered was ending 18 months since his last victory in the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, along with finding a strong semblance of his game as he prepares to return to Kiawah Island for the PGA Championship.
“It’s never easy,” McIlroy said. “It felt like a long time.” Read more
West Brom relegated after Arsenal defeat (NewTelegraph)
West Bromwich Albion have been relegated from the Premier League for a fifth time after a defeat at Arsenal that keeps alive the Gunners’ slim hopes of qualifying for Europe.
Sam Allardyce’s side were already virtually down but their return to the Championship is now confirmed, with the Baggies sitting 10 points from safety with three games remaining.
Emile Smith Rowe volleyed a smart opener from Bukayo Saka’s cross in the 29th minute after Arsenal had stemmed the visitors’ promising start.Nicolas Pepe made West Brom’s task even more difficult six minutes later when he cut in from the right and curled into the top corner to double Arsenal’s lead. Read more